Improving our fundamental understanding of the role of aerosol−cloud interactions in the climate system
California Institute of Technology · University of Washington · +21 more institutions
Abstract
The effect of an increase in atmospheric aerosol concentrations on the distribution and radiative properties of Earth's clouds is the most uncertain component of the overall global radiative forcing from preindustrial time. General circulation models (GCMs) are the tool for predicting future climate, but the treatment of aerosols, clouds, and aerosol-cloud radiative effects carries large uncertainties that directly affect GCM predictions, such as climate sensitivity. Predictions are hampered by the large range of scales of interaction between various components that need to be captured. Observation systems (remote sensing, in situ) are increasingly being used to constrain predictions, but significant…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 43.24
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 87
Authors
23Topics & keywords
- Aerosol
- Cloud computing
- Climate system
- Environmental science
- Climate change
- Atmospheric sciences
- Climatology
- Meteorology
- Climate action
Funding
- UDU.S. Department of EnergyAwards: DE-AC06-76RLO, DE-AC06-76RLO 1830, AC06-76RLO 1830, 76RLO 1830
- BBattelleAwards: DE-AC06-76RLO 1830, AC06-76RLO 1830, DE-AC06-76RLO
- SRSight Research UKAward: NE/F019874/1
- NENatural Environment Research CouncilAward: NE/F019874/1
- PNPacific Northwest National LaboratoryAwards: DE-AC06-76RLO 1830, DE-AC06-76RLO